Local News

Grants Pass firefighters extinguished a residential structure fire in the Portola area early yesterday. On Wednesday at 2:23 a.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department units responded to a reported structure fire in the 2,000-block of Portola Drive. Arriving units found a home fully-involved with flames. Crews confirmed all occupants were safely out before launching an aggressive firefight. Thanks to the swift, professional and coordinated efforts of the team, the fire was contained before it could spread to nearby homes. Firefighters remained on scene well into daylight to ensure complete overhaul and they continued monitoring the area throughout the day.

 

US Senator Jeff Merkley will hold five town hall meetings for Oregonians in March including two in Southern Oregon this coming weekend. The five events continue Merkley's 2025 town hall tour of Oregon, where he will hold a community conversation in each of the state's 36 counties. On Sunday, Merkley will hold a Jackson County Town Hall in the main gym at Ashland High School at noon. He will then hold a Josephine County Town Hall at the Rogue Community College gym in Grants Pass at 4 p.m.. Since taking office in 2009, Senator Merkley has kept his promise to hold an open town hall for each of the state's 36 counties every year. He said "there is nothing like holding town halls directly in the communities where Oregonians live and work to get to the heart of the ideas, issues and priorities that matter most to them." Oregonians have been turning out in record-breaking numbers to Merkley's town halls this year. His office works to find the best venues available, but please be advised that chosen venues may reach capacity.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners took time during its weekly business session yesterday to honor two groups of people who have gone far beyond the call of duty on the behalf of others. The Board first presented certificates to eight members of Parkwatch Grants Pass who volunteer to keep city parks clean and free of drug paraphernalia and trash. The presentation followed a video that showed the group cleaning up parks and a large amount of drug paraphernalia collected from their efforts. Under the banner "Parks are For Kids," the group is always looking for more volunteers. The Commissioners then honored four members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office who saved the life of a co-worker in early February. Certificates were given to Lieutenant Geiger, Detective Sergeant Henrich and Evidence Technicians Kayla Lauer and Haylee Bayard who used an automatic external defibrillator to save the life of Doug DuLong after he suffered a critical cardiac event. During the public comment period, a woman praised local law enforcement and criticized sex education in schools, a man gave his reasons for the separation of church and state, and another man requested the return of the OSU Extension Service to Josephine County.

 

Total payroll employment in Jackson County fell by 1,480 jobs in January. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 99,165 people working in Jackson County in January for a seasonally-adjusted jobless rate of 6.1%, which was up sharply over the 4.7% rate posted in December. Retail trade showed the largest decrease, down by 530 jobs over the month. Other industries with estimated declines were health care & social assistance, construction, leisure & hospitality, professional & business services, and transportation, warehousing & utilities. Government employment fell by 60. Over the past year, payroll employment in Jackson County rose by 390 jobs, or 0.4%. Since January 2024, industries adding jobs were private education & health services (+670), retail trade (+350), construction (+80), and other services (+80). Industries with over-the-year losses included professional & business services (-270), leisure & hospitality (-160), financial activities (-110) and manufacturing (-50). Government lost 120 jobs since January 2024, with losses in local government somewhat offset by gains in state and federal government.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department -- alongside several local law enforcement agencies and community organizations -- took part in the annual Polar Plunge last Saturday at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Medford. This fun but chilly event is part of a fundraising effort to support Special Olympics Oregon, benefiting over 5,000 special athletes each year. The Polar Plunge isn't just a one-day event -- it's the culmination of months of fundraising by dedicated individuals and teams. This year, 12 members of GPPD raised nearly $4,500, contributing to a collective total of more than $56,000 raised by 33 teams. Local officers said they were thrilled to participate in this meaningful event for such a worthy cause. In addition to GPPD, local law enforcement participants included the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Medford Police Department, Central Point Police Department, Eagle Point Police Department and the Oregon State Police.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners took time during its weekly business session this morning to honor two groups of people who have gone far beyond the call of duty on the behalf of others. The Board first presented certificates to eight members of Parkwatch Grants Pass who volunteer to keep city parks clean and free of drug paraphernalia and trash. The presentation followed a video that showed the group cleaning up parks and a large amount of drug paraphernalia collected from their efforts. Under the banner "Parks are For Kids," the group is always looking for more volunteers. The Commissioners then honored four members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office who saved the life of a co-worker in early February. Certificates were given to Lieutenant Geiger, Detective Sergeant Henrich and Evidence Technicians Kayla Lauer and Haylee Bayard who used an automatic external defibrillator to save the life of Doug DuLong after he suffered a critical cardiac event. There were no public hearings, administrative action items or proclamations on the agenda. During the public comment period, a woman praised local law enforcement and criticized sex education in schools, a man gave his reasons for the separation of church and state, and another man requested the return of the OSU Extension Service to Josephine County. Newly-appointed Grants Pass Budget Committee member Mike Pelfrey praised the efforts of Parkwatch Grants Pass and criticized the leadership of the city. His wife Winnie Pelfrey said she believes local nonprofit groups are enabling the homeless to continue living unhealthy lifestyles.

 

The Josephine Community Library District Board of Directors wishes to clarify that it has not canceled the lease negotiation meeting originally scheduled with the Josephine County Board of Commissioners for Thursday morning. Contrary to some recent statements, the local library board remains committed to participating in a good-faith discussion on the future of the Grants Pass library branch lease. JCLD itself has issued a public notice for this joint session to ensure full transparency and public awareness of the status of the lease negotiations. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Anne Basker Auditorium. In the event the Board of Commissioners does not attend, the library board will convene outside the auditorium to provide a press conference, ensuring the public remains informed about the status of these negotiations. Grants Pass Friends of the Library plans to hold a rally to remind the Board of Commissioners that library supporters are paying attention to the proposed "outlandish" increase in the library's rent for the building on NW C Street. The group also aims to remind the Commissioners to uphold the Josephine County Charter which -- in its Finance chapter -- stipulates that the Board shall provide for the support and maintenance of the library. Community members are encouraged to attend tomorrow's meeting or continue making their voices heard by contacting the Board of Commissioners at "bcc@josephinecounty.gov."

 

Grants Pass Police arrested three men for drug-related offenses yesterday during patrol checks at the homeless campsite at 6th and A streets. The Police Department reports officers initially responded to the camp for reports of two men fighting and they observed multiple subjects using drugs. Police said they arrested 36-year-old Caleb Michael Bintz for Resisting Arrest, Methamphetamine Possession and the resulting Probation Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Also arrested for Meth Possession were 38-year-old Mark Andrew Huff and 46-year-old Floyd Terry Rose. Both men were lodged in jail and trespassed from the camp for 30 days. Several other people who were not identified in the report were arrested for drug offenses -- but instead of going to jail, they elected to go through the deflection process and were taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center. A woman identified as "Amanda McCoy" was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Utilization of Space violations. She was issued a 30-day exclusion order.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trespassing on railroad property and becoming argumentative with law enforcement late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were performing a patrol check when they contacted the female subject on railroad property off NE Mill Street near the Home Depot store at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday. Police said the woman was walking along the railroad tracks when they contacted her and she immediately became argumentative with them. They said she showed obvious signs of impairment and provided numerous names so they were unable to identify her. She also stated that she was in a coma for nine years and had no clue where she was born or what state she was in. After advising the woman she was under arrest, she actively resisted by placing her arms underneath her body and using her legs to push off and kick at officers. Joint manipulation was used to place her hands behind her back and apply handcuffs. "Jane Doe" was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was fingerprinted and there were no results on her identity in all 50 states.